Samuel Henderson Kite

1922 - 2014

Samuel Henderson Kite, 92, passed away Sunday, July 27, 2014, peacefully at his home. Service: 1:30 p.m. Friday in Greenwood Chapel. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Greenwood. Memorials: In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Sam Kite was born Jan. 21, 1922, in Clarita, Okla. He was a loving and proud husband, father and grandfather, who founded local businesses Kite's Custom Cleaners and Kite's Draperies and Interiors. Sam left home to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II, sailing aboard the USS Chester in the Pacific theater. During the war, Sam fought at the battle of Iwo Jima and the battle of Okinawa. He narrowly survived a direct torpedo hit to his ship. After returning home, Sam met and married his wife of 65 years, Wanda Aline Woods. He and Aline moved to Fort Worth in 1951. Sam was a hardworking and energetic man who founded Kite's Custom Cleaners in 1958 and Kite's Draperies and Interiors in 1973. Sam loved showing competitively Palomino Western Pleasure horses with his children, fishing in his pond with his grandchildren, dancing with his wife at the Petroleum Club on Saturday nights and traveling around the world with their friends. He was an active member of the Westside Rotary Club, the Fort Worth Petroleum Club, Ridglea Country Club, the Fort Worth Air Power Council and Westside Church of Christ. Sam's family would like to give special thanks to Sherri Haught, Gloria Baylor, Janice Brown, Rachel Espinosa and the other ladies from Professional Caretakers who took such wonderful care of Sam in his later years. Sam was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Henderson and Lenora Carter Kite; brothers, Frank and Haskel Kite; and sister, Willie Kite Simpson. Survivors: Wife, Aline; son, Sam and wife, Carol; daughter, Nancy Kite Courtney; son, Gary and wife, Lillian; son, Philip and wife, Emily; grandchildren, Nathan Kite, Jenny Gillespie and husband, Matt, Julie Joost and husband, Dustin, Christina Rodgers and husband, Cass, Scott Courtney Jr., Maxcey Blaylock and husband, Luke, and Sam P. Kite; sister, Jodie Lee George of Edmond, Okla.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.